Home Inspirations

We’ve all heard the saying, “Don’t move, improve,” and while undertaking smaller and large scale renovation projects can make your home a more wonderful place to live, it’s also a great way to add value to your property.

Time to move, and improve

When it comes to adding value to your home, there are a variety of simple renovations that you can endeavor to complete. These small yet deal-breaking jobs include keeping gutters clean and tidy, replacing windows and their frames, buying a welcoming front door, and keeping lawns mowed and gardens trimmed, as well as ensuring your interiors are clean and freshly decorated.

Potential buyers will always view your home in terms of the money they’d have to spend on improving it, such as installing a new kitchen or bathroom, so the less you give them to do, the better. Completing a minor kitchen remodel, in which you spend roughly 25% of the value of your home, could earn you a return of almost 85%, while a slight bathroom renovation could snatch back a 60% return.

For a moment, view your property in terms of investment and profit, rather than simply a home, and you’ll soon find areas that require your attention. Minor renovations such as these cost less than you may think and will still give your home the impression of being fresh and, more importantly, a must have. If you have a little more time and a bigger budget, consider adding an attic room or basement conversion to your property; adding an attic bedroom can be relatively straight forward if you already possess a usable space, while basements make excellent storage rooms, games rooms, or living spaces. Most importantly, though, they’ll add instant value to your home, while ensuring you have more room to work with during the time you live there.

Making the most of outside

While making the most of indoor features such as bathrooms and kitchens can help to add dollars to your asking price, it’s what you do with your outdoor space that can really sell your property. While building an entire garage can often seem a daunting prospect, it is an excellent way to up your asking price. For example, replacing a garage door alone can add over 80% return on your investment, so consider the possibilities attached to a whole structure. So what is it about a garage that attracts buyers? Well, they’re seen as a source of extra storage, are a place to house a treasured vehicle, and can form the basis of that dream room or man cave you’ve been dying to build; in short, a garage is often at the top of a buyer’s list, and so taking the time to add one, particularly if it’s a relatively simple sectional structure, can be well worth it. As with the rest of your house, it is important to keep a garage maintained and well loved. Just as the absence of a garage will add strikes against your property’s sake potential, so too will a poorly looked after space. Potential new owners won’t want the responsibility of cleaning or rebuilding a neglected garage, after all. Ensure your garage is always in good working order, and don’t be afraid to show off its potential. When you need a garage door spring replacement, don’t delay, as simple tasks such as this often fall to the bottom of the pile. Now is the time to make sure that your house is looking its best, inside and out.

When it comes to selling up and moving on, it can be tempting to leave your home’s new owners to fix any problems or make the additions they are dreaming of. However, by redecorating your space, renovating key areas such as the kitchen and bathroom, and building a garage, you’ll be able to demand more money for your home, as well as sell it much more quickly. You can’t put a price on that!